3/13/2019 Address at the Rio Earth Summit | The 14th Dalai Lama

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Universal Responsibility and the Global

Environment - Address at the Rio Earth Summit SHARE

As the twentieth century draws to close, we find that the world has grown smaller. The IN THIS SECTION
world's peace have become almost one community. Political and military alliances have
The Natural World
created large multinational groups, industry and international trade have produced a
global economy. Worldwide communications are eliminating ancient barriers of distance,
Hope for Tibet's Environment
language and race. We are also being drawn together by the grave problems we face:
overpopulation, dwindling natural resources, and an environmental crisis that threatens
Practical Steps Towards Protection of
our air, water, and trees, along with the vast number of beautiful life forms that are the
the Environment
very foundation of existence on this small planet we share.
Politics and Environment: An
I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a Interview
greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not for his or her
self, family or nation, but for the benefit of all mankind. Universal responsibility is the real The Sheltering Tree of
key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world. peace, the equitable use of Interdependence
natural resources and through concern for the future generations, the proper care of the
environment. An Essay on Mountains

Address at the Rio Earth Summit

Thinking Globally: A Universal Task

A Clean Environment Is a Human

Right

Universal Responsibility and the

Environment

A Buddhist Concept of Nature

His Holiness the Dalai Lama visiting Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior during the UNCED Rio Earth Summit in
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on June 1, 1992. (Photo by Green Peace / Steve Morgan)

I have come to this international gathering of environmental leaders in a spirit of optimism

and hope. The meetings here represent a threshold for humanity; the chance for our
emerging global community to cooperate in an unprecedented manner. Even. though it
appears that the Earth Summit may, in some respects, fall short of what is needed, the
very fact that it has taken place represents a tremendous achievement. That is why it is
so heartening to see so many non-governmental organizations here. Your role in forging
a better future is absolutely essential, and while this role is still, within the United Nations,
limited, it is expanding.

So many non-governmental organizations are built by dedicated volunteers out of

genuine caring for fellow human beings. Your commitment represents the forefront of
both social and environmental progress. All of the organizations represented here have
particular wants and needs just, in fact, as individuals do. Without our collective efforts

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3/13/2019 Address at the Rio Earth Summit | The 14th Dalai Lama
however, the gains made here would be significantly less.

Whether we like it or not, we have been born on this earth as part of one great family.
Rich or poor, educated or uneducated belonging to one nation, ideology or another,
ultimately each of us just a human being like everyone else. Furthermore, each of us has
the same right to pursue happiness and avoid suffering. When you recognize that all
beings are equal in this respect, you automatically feel empathy and closeness for them.
Out of this, in turn, comes a genuine sense of universal responsibility; the wish to actively
help others overcome their problems.

Of course, this sort of compassion is by nature, peaceful and gentle, but it is also very
powerful. It is the true sign of inner strength. We do not need to become religious, nor do
we need to believe in an ideology. All that is necessary is for each of us to develop our
good human qualities.

The need for a sense of universal responsibility affects every aspect of modern life.
Nowadays, significant events in one part of the world eventually affect the entire planet.
Therefore, we have to treat each major local problem as a global concern from the
moment it begins. We can no longer invoke the national, racial or ideological barriers that
separate us without destructive repercussions. In the context of our new
interdependence, considering the interests of others is clearly the best form of self-
interest.

Interdependence, of course, is a fundamental law of nature. Not only myriad forms of life,
but the subtlest level of material phenomena, as well, is governed by interdependence.
All phenomena, from the planet we inhabit to the oceans, clouds, forests and flowers that
surrounds us, arise in dependence upon subtle patterns of energy. Without their proper
interaction, they dissolve and decay.

We need to appreciate this fact of nature far more than we have in the past. Our
ignorance of it is directly responsible for many of the problems we face. For instance,
tapping the limited resources of our world-particularly those of the developing nations -
simply to fuel consumerism, is disastrous. If it continues unchecked, eventually we will all
suffer. We must respect the delicate matrix of life and allow it to replenish itself. The
United Nations Environment Program warns, I'm told, that we are facing the most
massive wave of extinction in 65 million years. This fact is profoundly frightening. It must
open our minds to the immense proportions of the crisis we face.

Ignorance of Interdependence has not only harmed the natural environment, but human
society as well.

Instead of caring for one another, we place most of our efforts for happiness in pursuing
individual material consumption. We have become so engrossed in this pursuit that,
without knowing it, we have neglected to foster the most basic human needs of love,
kindness and cooperation. This is very sad. We have to consider what we human beings
really are. We are not machine-made objects. If we were merely mechanical entities, then
machines themselves could alleviate all of our sufferings and fulfill our needs. However,
since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to seek fulfillment in external
development alone.

Basically, we all cherish tranquility. For example, when spring comes, the days grow
longer, there is more sunshine, the grass and trees come alive and everything is fresh.
People feel happy. In autumn, one leaf falls, then another, then all the beautiful flowers
die until we are surrounded by bare-naked plants. We do not feel so joyful. Why is this?
Because deep down, we desire constructive, fruitful growth and dislike things collapsing,
dying or being destroyed. Every destructive action goes against our basic nature;
building, being constructive, is the human way.

To pursue growth properly, we need to renew our commitment to human values in many
fields. Political life, of course, requires an ethical foundation, but science and religion, as
well, should be pursued from a moral basis. Without it scientists cannot distinguish
between beneficial technologies and those which are merely expedient. The
environmental damage surrounding us is the most obvious result of this confusion. In the

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3/13/2019 Address at the Rio Earth Summit | The 14th Dalai Lama
case of religion, it is particularly necessary.

The purpose of religion is not to build beautiful churches, or temples, but to cultivate
positive human qualities such as tolerance, generosity and love. Every world religion, no
matter what its philosophical view is founded first and foremost on the precept that we
must reduce our selfishness and serve others. Unfortunately, sometimes in the name of
religion, people cause more quarrels than they solve. Practitioners of different faiths
should realize that each religious tradition has immense intrinsic value as a means for
providing mental and spiritual health.

There is a wonderful verse in the Bible about turning swords into, ploughshares. It's a
lovely image, a weapon transformed into, a tool to serve basic human needs, symbolic of
an attitude of inner and outer disarmament. In the spirit of ' this ancient message, I think it
is important that we stress today the urgency of a policy that is long overdue; the
demilitarization of the entire planet.

Demilitarization will free great human resources for protection of the environment, relief of
poverty, and sustainable human devel0pment. It is my hope that the United Nations can
soon help make "this a reality.

I have always envisioned the future of my own country, Tibet, to be founded on this basis.
Tibet would be a neutral, demilitarized sanctuary where weapons are forbidden and the
people live in harmony with nature; This is not merely a dream - it is precisely the way
Tibetans tried to live for over a thousand years before our Country was tragically invaded.
In Tibet, wildlife was protected in accordance with Buddhist principles. In the seventeenth
century, We began enacting decrees to protect the environment and so we may have
been one of the first nations to have difficulty enforcing environmental regulations!
However, mainly our environment was protected by our beliefs, which were instilled in us
as children. Also, for at least the last three hundred years, we had virtually no army. Tibet
gave up the waging as an instrument of national policy in the eighth century.

I would like to conclude by stating that, in general, I feel optimistic about the future. The
rapid changes in our attitude towards the earth are also a source of hope. As recently as
a decade ago, we thoughtlessly devoured the resources of the world, as if there were no
end to them. We failed to realize that unchecked consumerism was disastrous for both
the environment and social welfare. Now, both individuals and governments are seeking
a new ecological and economic order.

I often joke that the moon and stars look beautiful" but if any of us tried to live on them we
would be miserable. This blue planet of ours is a delightful habitat. Its life is our life; its
future our future. Indeed, the earth acts like a mother to us all. Like children, we are
dependent on her. In the fact of such global problems as the greenhouse effect and
depletion of the or one layer, individual organizations and single nations are helpless.
Unless we all work together; no solution can be found. Our mother earth is teaching us a
lesson in universal responsibility.

I think we say that, because of the lessons we have begun to learn, the next century will
be friendlier, more harmonious, and less harmful. Compassion, the seeds of peace will be
able to flourish. I am very hopeful. At the same time, I believe that every individual has a
responsibility to help guide our global family in the right direction. Good wishes alone are
not enough; we have to assume responsibility. Large human movements spring from
individual human initiatives.

The sponsor of these events, the United Nations, was founded out of the need to prevent
military conflict. I am very moved that its mission has grown to take on a new challenge -
that of safeguarding the long term health of our planet and ourselves. I hope and pray
that in the days ahead, each of us does all we can to see that the goal of creating a
happier, more harmonious and healthier world is achieved.

The full text of the address on June 7, 1992 to the Parliamentary Earth Summit (Global
Forum) of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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3/13/2019 Address at the Rio Earth Summit | The 14th Dalai Lama

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